Protective Factors

• Builds on and can be integrated into existing programs, strategies, systems and community opportunities.

• Can be implemented through small but significant changes in everyday actions.

• Is grounded in research, practice and implementation knowledge.

Five Protective Factors are the foundation of the Strengthening Families Approach: parental resilience, social connections, concrete support in times of need, knowledge of parenting and child development, and social and emotional competence of children. Research studies support the common-sense notion that when these Protective Factors are well established in a family, the likelihood of child abuse and neglect diminishes. Research shows that these protec­tive factors are also “promotive” factors that build family strengths and a family environment that promotes optimal child and youth development (from cssp.org).